LibGuides: Statistics: Politics

Finding Political Statistics

The lists on this page come from the Political Science research guide and are an excellent set of resources to help you find political statistics.

You can also find statistics within scholarly literature, so pay attention to any statistics you come across and track down where the researcher found them (or if the researcher generated the statistics through their own scholarship). Use the Political Science research guide for ideas on how to search the literature.

Please reach out to a librarian for help, too. We enjoy helping you identify and track down statistics. Remember that if you google "politics statistics" that you make sure you're evaluating the site so you know what you're looking at and where the data originated. Librarians can help you vet sites, too, and are happy to take a look at what you've found.

Statistical Sources

American National Election Studies
With data from 1948-present, the ANES is widely considered the leading source for election-related data, conducted before and after every presidential election.
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Lots of data on crime, victims, offenders, law enforcement, and topics such as drugs and crime. Includes the Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics Online.
Bureau of the Census
The U. S. Census is a major source of data, including data used for mapping with GIS.
Comparative Agendas: Comparing Policies Worldwide
Collects and analyzes data to track policy outcomes in the US and other countries from World War II to the present. Includes downloadable datasets.
FiveThirtyEight Data Files
Via GitHub - a selection of the data and the data-processing scripts behind the articles, graphics and interactives at FiveThirtyEight.
Google Public Data Explorer
Contains data sets and metrics from a wide variety of publicly available data sources.
Guide to Statistics
The Gustavus Library's guide to statistics has many suggested resources for finding stats.
Legislative Explorer
Data and tools for visualizing legislative patterns.
National Center for Education Statistics
A vast collection of data on schools, teachers, educational attainment, and more. From the U.S. Department of Education.
National Center for Health Statistics
A wealth of data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control. Click on FastStats for health statistics by topic.
Statistical Abstract of the United States - Ready Reference HA 202 .P76
This is perhaps the single most useful small package of statistical information available. It includes hundreds of tables of figures on population, economics, social factors, etc., with references to the original sources.
Statistical Sites on the World Wide Web
A cleanly-organized and helpful guide to US and world statistical sources. From the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Offers statistics on consumer price, employment, wages, inflation, productivity, the U.S. economy, etc. This is a gold mine of current statistical data and reports covering consumer spending, employment, wages, productivity, occupations, international trade, and industries. Also shows "The U.S. Economy at a Glance."

Sources for Opinion Polls

This list is fairly US-centered; for public opinion data from other regions of the world, visit the Researching Countries tab and consult the Statistics and Data - Worldwide and Statistics and Data - Regional boxes.

American Religion Data Archive
Mostly using public opinion polls, this site provides demographic and attitudinal information about American's religious beliefs.
Associated Press/IPSOS Poll
Annotated list of polls with a focus on the economy and politics; includes US, Canada, and international polls.
FiveThirtyEight Politics
A site that analyzes poll and other data for politics, sports, economics, science, and culture. The underlying data is also made available in many cases.
Gallup Poll - Ref HN 90 .P8 G35
An annual compilation of opinion poll statistics gathered by the Gallup Organization, covering from 1935 to the present. Indexes make it easy to find figures from different years. This organization also maintains a website which contains selected data at Gallup.com.
General Social Survey
The GSS contains a standard 'core' of demographic, behavioral, and attitudinal questions, plus topics of special interest. Many of the core questions have remained unchanged since 1972 to facilitate time-trend studies as well as replication of earlier findings.
LAPOP-Latin American Public Opinion Project
Results from most Latin American countries as well as Madagascar, Israel, and Albania.
Marist Poll
Based at a college, this survey research center conducts polls on politics and a variety of cultural and social issues.
Monmouth University Poll Reports
A university-based public opinion survey research institute.
New York Times Poll Watch
An excellent, reliable source for polls and public opinion data.
Pew Research Center
A non-partisan site that researches politics, media, social trends, religion, science and technology, Hispanic Americans, and global opinion.
Polling Report
An independent, nonpartisan resource on trends in American public opinion.
Quinnipiac University Poll
Based at a college, this organization conducts phone interviews on politics and policy.
Real Clear Politics
Curates opinion poll data on a variety of issues.
Survey Research Center
From the University of Michigan.
Washington Post Polls
Results of surveys conducted by the Washington Post as well as links to other polls.
World Public Opinion
Results of studies from polls conducted around the world.
World Values Survey
Tables and graphs from World Values Survey conducted 1981-2004.